Portuguese | Sri Lankan - NHS Nurse
I identify as mixed-race and LGBTQ+. My parents were high school sweethearts - my mum’s parents were Portuguese and my dad was indigenous Sinhalese who spoke French, English, Arabic, Hindi as well as his native Sinhala. They were both born and raised in Sri Lanka and were both Buddhists, so their cultures merged very easily. I was brought up in Sri Lanka and the Middle East where, as a child, there seemed to be few racial differences and therefore very little racism. When I reached my teenage years, I began to realise that the South Asian diaspora in the Middle East was treated ‘differently’ and I was keen to return to my native Sri Lanka in search of acceptance.
I moved to Australia, to complete my studies and train as a nurse, and subsequently to the UK for work. I then became more acutely aware of the greater mix of races and the much higher levels of racism. In countries where there are so many racial differences I cannot understand why people would not get on together. It makes me feel rather sad.
In my eyes, people are all equal, regardless of the colour of their skin or which god they pray to. I am a brown man from Sri Lanka who has lived in Saudi, Bahrain and Dubai. I went to Australia to study and then settled in the UK after falling in love with a white man who I married. For many years I hid my sexuality and most of my family in Sri Lanka still do not know I am married. It breaks my heart that this part of my life will never be accepted by my family. I am very grateful to those friends who have become my family and accept me for who I am.
I am fortunate to work in a very culturally mixed environment where the majority of my colleagues, male and female, are supportive and accepting. During the Covid-19 pandemic we have all had to follow strict guidelines, including wearing face masks and not sharing food. For a nurse to be unable to share the cakes that their patients have brought in to hospital or that our colleagues have baked is dispiriting. This is, of course, for our own benefit as well as our patients, but the restrictions that are put in place affect our physical and mental well-being. I come home every day, and I am very grateful to my loving husband for being someone I can talk to and be comforted by.
If I am reborn I would want to return to a world where race and sexuality were not an issue. I believe every individual should be loved and accepted for who they are. People don’t deserve any less love, respect, kindness or acceptance because they are a different colour or because they are gay.